A MONTH ON KENTISH KNOCK LIGHTSHIP 13 



is made clear by a reference to the " Daily Weather 

 Chart " issued by the Meteorological Ofifice, and also by 

 the observations registered at the lightship. The fact is 

 that the weather changed rapidly under a falling 

 barometer and a southerly wind ; and thus, although 

 the migrants set out under favourable conditions 

 for the passage, they were overtaken while en 

 route by the changes which became more and more 

 unfavourable as they neared the English coast, and 

 approached more nearly the storm-centre which lay off 

 our own western shores. Thus were they trapped, and 

 had to make the best they could of a bad passage. 



There were also westward flights of considerable 

 magnitude on the part of the same species on the 

 following day, 12th October, and again on the 15th. 

 These were performed under conditions which were not 

 unfavourable to the migrants. On the latter date some 

 remarkable cross-migrations were observed on the part 

 of Skylarks and Chaffinches, passing flocks of which were 

 coming from both the north and east, sometimes simul- 

 taneously, during the morning. 



On 1 7th October, Skylarks and Starlings were passing 

 west at intervals during the day, in spite of a somewhat 

 high northerly wind. Late in the afternoon the first 

 Rooks and Jackdaws appeared in small numbers, as they 

 did also, as I afterwards ascertained, at the Galloper 

 lightship, a vessel moored over thirteen miles to the 

 east-north-east of us. The advent of these birds was 

 of great interest to me. I had been expecting them for 

 some time, for they were overdue. Several individuals 

 of each species appeared at 4.30 p.m. and alighted on 

 the ship, but did not remain long ere they departed 

 westward. At 6.30 p.m., in continuance, no doubt, of 



